Page 65 of Warrior

“Miss Church.We need you to come with us,” a firm voice said, halting my progress.

I turned to find a man in military attire flanked by four soldiers.The formal use ofMiss Churchwas a red flag in itself.

I sized them up, weighing my options.Taking all five of them in Warrior form would be easy, but now wasn’t the time.My best weapon at the moment was patience, and a growing determination to find out exactly what game the Federation was playing.

“Sure,” I said, seemingly calm, though my insides churned.“I was hoping to find President Barnes’s office to schedule an appointment.”

The pathetic, submissive tone I’d been using grated on me, and I had a sinking feeling myhelpless actwas over.The soldiers crowding closer confirmed it.This wasn’t an escort.It was a detention.

My fingers twitched, aching to form claws.

Kill.

No.

Kill.

Ms.Beast stirred in anger, fully aware that the dynamic had shifted.She wanted to fight, her rage clawing at my insides.

I shoved the K-5 back with sheer willpower, sending her a silent promise she might actually heed:Soon.

They led me into a part of the underground I hadn’t seen before.The farther we went, the tighter they pressed in around me.My palms grew damp as I fought to keep Ms.Beast restrained.Their proximity was suffocating, and she was ready to burst free.But now wasn’t the time.I needed to figure out what game they were playing before making my move.

Soon,I reminded her again.

The room they brought me to was stark and utilitarian, like the interview room from my debriefing only far more sinister.Steel manacles bolted to the table made it clear this wasn’t going to be a friendly chat.The air carried the pungent stench of blood, urine, and fear.

Ms.Beast fell silent, a dangerous quiet that didn’t bode well.

The door opened, and General Smyth entered, his smug expression practically glowing with self-satisfaction.Victory gleamed in his eyes, but it didn’t fill me with dread.It filled me with something colder, sharper, and far more dangerous.

This time, I didn’t have to wrestle with Ms.Beast.I only needed to delay her.

“Miss Church,” he greeted me with relish, his tone thick with condescension.It was all I could do not to roll my eyes.He looked like he was on the verge of rubbing his hands together in cartoonish glee.

I pushed down the heat rising in my chest and kept my voice steady.“Mr.Smyth.”

His nostrils flared slightly at my omission of his title, but like a seasoned interrogator, he didn’t take the bait.His game wasn’t to rise to the challenge; it was to lay a trap and pull me into it.He cleared his throat with exaggerated care, the sound oozing arrogance.

“We’ve heard some rather disturbing rumors,” he began, his voice smooth, almost oily.“And we thought it best to address them with you directly.”

I was exhausted from playing the silly, scared female routine, but for a short time more, it was necessary.

“Officer Daniels hasn’t liked me since the day I arrived,” I said hoarsely, blinking rapidly to make my eyes glisten with unshed tears.“It’s so disheartening, really.He and I actually have a lot in common.I don’t understand why he’s so mean to me.”

Smyth pulled a pen from his pocket and began tapping it rhythmically against the table.

“What exactly do you have in common?”he asked after a moment, his curiosity momentarily overriding his initial line of questioning.

Exactly what I wanted.If I could steer the conversation, I could uncover what was really going on.The hours spent with King and Axel grilling me for situations like this were not going to waste.

“Our fathers,” I said softly, pushing a braid behind my ear.“His father is alive, of course, but we both understand what it’s like to have a father who sacrifices everything for the Federation.”I gave Smyth the most beseeching look I could muster.“I’m useless in this position.I’m willing to give up the Secretary of Defense title and let Daniels have it.Surely, you must agree he’d do a better job.”

Tap, tap, tapwent the pen.

Smyth’s expression faltered just slightly, a crack in his carefully maintained demeanor.I could tell this conversation wasn’t going the way he’d anticipated.

After a brief pause, he switched tactics.“Why don’t you tell me about your visit to Cuba with the Shadow Warriors?You were there for months.”

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